He has been defended tooth and nail by Donald Trump for several months, but Edward Gallagher was far from unanimous among his men. This 40-year-old elite soldier, a member of the famous commandos of the United States Navy, "Navy SEALs", who was tried for war crimes last summer, has been described as 'Toxic' by former combatants in Iraq who rubbed shoulders with him, reports Friday 27 December on New york times.
Videos obtained by the American newspaper and published on Friday show former members of Eddie Gallagher's elite testifying as part of a pre-trial investigation. "The guy is completely crazy", says one of the most experienced of them, Craig Miller, at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
“Nobody touch him. He’s mine. ”Navy SEAL videos and text messages reveal why some of Chief Edward Gallagher’s own m… https://t.co/Hyn6cPJwXn
A description that contrasts with Trump's glowing words
While the implicit rule is never to testify against another "Navy SEAL", and that silence is usually king in this elite unit, languages end up loosening, not without difficulties. "It could be seen that he didn't mind killing anyone who moved at all"says another soldier, Corey Scott. "The guy was toxic", adds a third, Joshua Vriens.
These descriptions of Chief Gallagher, sometimes nicknamed "Blade", contrast sharply with the description that Donald Trump made of him at a recent political rally in Florida as one of the "Great fighters" of the US military.
Edward Gallagher was tried last summer for war crimes. It was declared on July 2 not guilty of the murder of a prisoner in Iraq in 2017 and acquitted of two attempted murders on Iraqi civilians. However, he had been found guilty of posing next to the body of the young man killed with other soldiers.
Received by the American president in Mar-a-Lago
The non-commissioned officer had therefore been downgraded by one rank, a sanction which reduced his pay and his retirement. But Donald Trump had canceled this decision of the United States Navy on November 15. The president continued to defend the soldier after the Navy announced that it was continuing an internal exclusion procedure. In disagreement with Donald Trump's will, the head of the Navy, Richard Spencer, finally had to leave office.
Mr. Gallagher, through his lawyer, reacted to the New york times by discovering the videos of these testimonies. he said "surprised and disgusted that (these soldiers) can make up blatant lies about (him)". "It grieves me that they thought it was necessary to dirty my name. But the videos also gave me confidence because I know their lies would never stand up to real interrogation ", he also told the American newspaper.
He and his wife were received on Sunday December 22 at the Donald Trump residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where the president is spending the holiday season. Eddie Gallagher even took the opportunity to let him know on his Instagram account.
